For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 22, 2003

Personnel Announcement

President George W. Bush today announced his
intention to nominate five individuals to serve in his administration:

The President intends to nominate Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, of
Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America to Afghanistan. Dr. Khalilzad currently serves
as Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan, a role he will retain
after he is confirmed as Ambassador. Dr. Khalilzad previously served as
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Islamic
Outreach and Southwest Asia Initiatives at the National Security
Council, and prior to that Special Assistant to the President and
Senior Director for Southwest Asia, Near East, and North African
Affairs, National Security Council. He also has been a Special
Presidential Envoy to the Free Iraqis. Between 1993 and 1999, Dr.
Khalilzad was Director of the Strategy, Doctrine and Force Structure
program for RAND's Project Air Force. Between 1991 and 1992, Dr.
Khalilzad served as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy Planning. He also served as a senior political scientist at RAND
and an associate professor at the University of California at San Diego
in 1989 and 1991. From 1985 to 1989 at the Department of State, Dr.
Khalilzad served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs working policy issues, advising on the Iran-Iraq War
and the Soviet War in Afghanistan. From 1979 to 1986, Dr. Khalilzad was
an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University. Dr.
Khalilzad received his bachelor's and master's degree from The American
University of Beirut, Lebanon. He went on to earn a Ph.D. from the
University of Chicago.

The President intends to nominate Raymond Simon, of Arkansas, to be
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department
of Education. Mr. Simon currently serves as Director of Education at
the Arkansas Department of Education. He previously served as Assistant
Superintendent for Finance and the Superintendent for Conway Public
Schools, in Conway, Arkansas. Mr. Simon is a graduate of the University
of Central Arkansas, where he went on to earn a master's degree.

The President intends to nominate the following individuals to
serve as Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for
National and Community Service:

The President intends to nominate Cynthia Boich, of California, for
the remainder of a five-year term expiring October 6, 2007.

The President intends to nominate Dorothy A. Johnson, of Michigan,
for the remainder of a five-year term expiring October 6, 2007.

The President intends to nominate Henry Lozano, of California, for
a five year term expiring October 6, 2008.